Coin operated jukebox device using data communication network

ABSTRACT

A coin-operated music playing machine or jukebox includes a coin unit, a viewing screen, an input keyboard, and at least one loudspeaker. The jukebox is connected to a central music store via a remote data transmission line, preferably an ISDN line. The jukebox has digital/analog converters and amplifiers for information transmitted via the remote data transmission line. The jukebox also includes an intermediate memory for storing audio information received over the remote data transmission line and a mass storage memory for frequently played selections.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a coin operated jukebox including a paymentunit such as a coin unit, a display, an input keyboard and at least oneloudspeaker.

Such coin operated jukeboxes are set up at many locations, particularlyin restaurants. Usually, they include an audio record magazine equippedwith a changer and a playback unit which plays an audio record selectedby a user. While some audio records that are played continuously with acertain frequency are always available in the magazine, others, whosetitles are not so popular or which contain the current hits, areexchanged more frequently. The display provided on the jukebox usuallyindicates the titles of the audio records available in the magazine.

In a coin operated jukebox as disclosed in German Patent 2,944,177,audio records are employed which contain a additional machine readableinformation on each side. When a selected audio record is accessed, thisinformation is read and stored, with the position corresponding to eachrecord being stored in a memory. The reading of the respectiveadditional information makes it possible to obtain information about theuse of the jukebox and to evaluate such data by means of a computerincluded in the jukebox. For the person setting up the jukebox, thisfacilitates the selection of the most popular records.

With increasing frequency of use of data telecommunications, thepossibilities available to the users of such transmission systems havecontinuously broadened. In the meantime it is possible to transmit text,graphics, audio, video and film information with sufficient quality. Forthis purpose, such information call-up systems equipped with a dialognetwork employ narrowband dialog systems. For video transmissions,broadband information call-up systems must be employed. In aninformation call-up system disclosed in DE-OS [Unexamined PublishedGerman Patent Application] 3,207,022 for narrowband and broadbandinformation, the broadband information call-up center may be configuredas an audio-visual information bank equipped with appropriate controlsfrom which the broadband information is called up. A digital telephonenetwork or an ISDN [integrated service digital network] network isemployed as the data telecommunications line. If such an ISDN network isemployed, high transmission rates can be realized. The data reductionmethods employed here (1 bit reduction method) make it possible totransmit music with high sound quality.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the object of the invention to provide a coin operated jukeboxwhich can be produced economically and has simple operatingcharacteristics.

A coin operated jukebox according to the invention includes a coin unit,a display, an input keyboard and at least one loudspeaker. By way of adata telecommunications line, the jukebox is connected with a centralmusic store, with the data telecommunications line being suitable forthe transmission of audio information. The jukebox further includesdigital/analog converters and amplifiers for the audio informationreceived by way of the data telecommunications line.

Thus, a jukebox according to the invention is not itself equipped with aplayback unit and the corresponding further accessory units, but ratherthe jukebox is connected to a central music store and is able to call upfrom it the desired information, that is, the selected music pieces.Thus the amount of apparatus required for the individual jukebox isreduced and so is the extent of service and maintenance work because nostorage and exchange of audio records is required at the individualjukebox. This is necessary only for the central music store, which isable to hold a much greater number of music selections than anindividual jukebox. A data telecommunications line is provided for thetransmission of the music from the central music store to the individualjukebox. This data telecommunications line must of course be suitablefor the transmission of audio information and should advisably be anISDN line. The use of such integrated digital data transmissiontechnology permits the transmission of musical data with high qualityand speed.

For conversion of the transmitted audio signals, the individual jukeboxis provided with digital/analog converters and amplifiers. Since aplayback unit is not required if the jukebox is set up commercially, thejukebox according to the invention can be configured very compactly as aso-called cable-end unit, e.g., in the form of a stand-alone or wallmounted unit.

The jukebox includes a display, preferably a viewing screen unit, onwhich the music pieces available by way of the central music store andtheir titles, author, artist, etc. are displayed. The desired title canthen be selected by means of the input keyboard. After paying theappropriate fee, the selected musical piece is then called up from themusic store and is played. The listener is unable to discern adifference from the direct playback by means of a playback unitinstalled in the jukebox.

The jukebox configuration according to the invention makes it possibleto employ an entire system of relatively inexpensive playback end unitsor terminals and one central music store having a correspondingly largercapacity which can be utilized more effectively.

According to a further feature of the invention, it is also possible tointegrate the end unit in a conventional audio record player, a taperecorder, a television receiver, etc., which may also be set up in aprivate home. For this purpose it is merely necessary to modify the coinunit. The latter may be configured, for example, as a fee compilationunit similarly as for telephones and provide invoices, charges and/orfee accounting.

In such an overall system, the central store is advisably a data bankfor music selections which may be appropriately integrated in a dataprocessing system.

In order to be able to take advantage of the data transmission rate, theaudio signals are advisably stored in an intermediate memory in thejukebox, that is, in the end unit, and are transferred from there to theloudspeaker. Thus the expensive data transmission time and occupation ofthe data telecommunications line can be kept as short as possible, whichalso has the advantage that access to the central store is possible forthe largest possible number of users.

In the case of more frequently selected titles, it may happen that theyare requested simultaneously. For this purpose, a separate memory isprovided in the jukebox according to the invention which may be adiskette station and/or a fixed disk. So-called hits are thentransmitted from the central store to the jukebox and are stored in itshit memory from where they can then be played back directly.

The central store may be a record player equipped with a record magazineof one hundred or more audio records which can be removed for playbackand returned by way of changer units and computer control. However,magnetic tape cassettes, magnetic disks, optical disks, etc., may alsobe employed as storage medium.

The payment unit need not be a coin unit in the narrower sense which isintended to receive and process coins. Rather, this unit may also be aunit for processing bank notes. Additionally, it may also be possible toprovide for the processing of cards, particularly magnetically codedcards or, as already mentioned, charges and account transactions for theindividual end units may also be effected.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, a central computer isprovided which stores and/or processes user data for the individualjukeboxes, and the jukebox is connected with the central computer.Storage and/or processing of user data will hereafter be collectivelycalled "processing" the user data. The central computer is equipped withan operator code unit which permits access to the central computer andthe corresponding user data. This embodiment permits the person settingup the such a jukebox to call up machine and user data of interest tohim. In this way it is easy to determine which music selections areplayed most frequently, a popularity display may be obtained, the statusof cash on hand can be determined according to the call-up of the musicselections, and accounts can be settled by way of the central computer.

Advantageously, the jukebox itself may include a computer, particularlya microcomputer, which stores and processes user data, as well as anoperator code unit which grants access to the computer and user data. Bycentrally recording the selections played, it is possible for theoperator of such a jukebox to obtain data about the use of the jukeboxand the frequency of the playing of individual titles withoutcost-incurring use of the telecommunications line.

As mentioned, the central music store may include a playback unit andoptically or magnetically playable information carriers for musicselections. Moreover, further audio information may be included in thecentral music store, e.g., radio plays, recorded speeches, etc. Thecentral store may also include video information and, insofar as thejukebox includes a viewing screen, a video signal transmission may takeplace in addition to or as an alternative to the audio signaltransmission and, for example, movies with sound may be played.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference toan embodiment thereof and the drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic block circuit diagram for a jukebox systemaccording to the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a jukebox end unit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A jukebox system as shown schematically in FIG. 1 includes a centralunit 2 and a plurality of decentralized end units 4 which are connectedwith the central unit 2.

Central unit 2 includes a central store 10 which may be connected with anon-illustrated computer. Central store 10 may include a magazinearrangement of audio records and a playback device or magnetic oroptical disks containing stored audio information. Central store 10 isconnected by way of a bus 12 with an input/output unit 14 which,depending on the layout and configuration of the central store, may beequipped with a control unit, a computer, etc. A plurality of datatelecommunications lines 16, e.g., ISDN lines, are connected toinput/output unit 14.

Each data telecommunications line 16 is connected with the input/outputunit 20 of an end unit 4 which at its location is intended to replacethe conventional jukebox. Input/output unit 20 is connected by way of aline 22 with a viewing screen 24 which constitutes the display of endunit 4. Viewing screen 24 displays, e.g., the music selections that canbe played by the jukebox, with these selections being sorted, e.g.,according to title, artist, popularity ranking, and the like. Moreover,input/output unit 20 is connected by way of a line 26 with an inputkeyboard 28. The selection instructions fed in by way of the inputkeyboard are displayed on viewing screen 24 and the respectivelyselected music piece is made visible or identified. For a finalselection, the input keyboard may include a confirmation key. Theinput/output unit is additionally connected by way of a further line 30with a loudspeaker system 32. Moreover, the input keyboard may also bereplaced by a touch screen system.

End unit 4 may be designed in such a way that it includes only theinput/output units required for the selection of music pieces and therequired playback units, such as loudspeaker system 32. The remainingunits may be included in central unit 2 which, depending on theconfiguration of the jukebox system, may also perform the processing ofthe user data. In that case, the central unit includes a centralcomputer. To secure the data stored in the central computer andprocessed by it, an operator code unit may be provided in the externalend unit 4. This unit may also be reduced to such an extent that apassword is stored in it the input of which permits access to thecomputer and the user data. Thus the person setting up the device isable to perform accounting functions and evaluations under centralcontrol. The monitoring and payment of GEMA [=Gesellschaft furmusikalische Auffuhrungsund mechanischeVervielfaltigungsrechte=Association for Musical Performance andMechanical Reproduction Rights] fees is also simplified in such acentralized system.

The configuration of an end unit 4 is shown schematically in FIG. 2.This jukebox includes a housing 40 which is provided with a viewingscreen 24 and an input keyboard 28. Moreover, operator buttons andkeyboards 42 are provided with which the viewing screen display and theloudspeakers 32a and 32b of loudspeaker system 32 can be adjusted. Theyalso include an On/Off switch. Moreover, the frontal face of housing 40is provided with a slot 44 for the insertion of magnetically coded cardsto a payment unit, instead of a conventional coin unit as the paymentunit. Housing 40 is provided with a connection for a datatelecommunications line 16. A connection for a network cable 46 is alsoprovided.

We claim:
 1. An improved jukebox which is connected with a central musicstore by way of a data telecommunications line suitable for thetransmission of audio information, the jukebox including adigital/analog converter and an amplifier for audio information pickedup by way of the data telecommunications line, a payment unit, adisplay, an input keyboard, and at least one loudspeaker, wherein theimprovement comprises:an intermediate memory is provided for the audioinformation picked up over the data telecommunications line; a memory isprovided for frequency played musical selections; a central computer isprovided which processes user data for the individual jukeboxes and thejukebox connected with the central computer includes an operator codeunit which permits access to the central computer and the correspondinguser data; and the jukebox includes a computer which processes userdata.
 2. A jukebox according to claim 1, wherein the datatelecommunications line comprises an ISDN line.
 3. A jukebox accordingto claim 1, wherein the central music store comprises a data bank formusical selections.
 4. A jukebox according to claim 1, wherein theintermediate memory comprises a storage apparatus selected form thegroup consisting of a diskette station, a fixed disk, and a cachememory.
 5. A jukebox according to claim 1, wherein the display comprisesa viewing screen.
 6. A jukebox according to claim 1, wherein the paymentunit is configured to process paper money.
 7. A jukebox according toclaim 1, wherein the payment unit is configured to process cards.
 8. Ajukebox according to claim 1, wherein the central music store includes aplayback unit and optically playable information carriers for musicalselections.
 9. A jukebox according to claim 1, wherein the central musicstore includes further audio information.
 10. A jukebox according toclaim 1, wherein the display of the jukebox includes a viewing screen,and wherein the central music store includes graphic information.
 11. Ajukebox according to claim 1, in the form of a playback unit, whereinthe payment unit is configured as a fee compiling unit giving accountstatements.
 12. A jukebox according to claim 1, in the form of aplayback unit, wherein the payment unit is configured as a fee compilingunit giving charges.
 13. A jukebox according to claim 1, in the form ofa playback unit, wherein the payment unit is configured as a feecompiling unit giving an accounting of fees due.
 14. A jukebox accordingto claim 1, wherein the memory for frequently played musical selectionscomprises a storage apparatus selected from the group consisting of adiskette station, a fixed disk, and a cache memory.
 15. A jukeboxaccording to claim 1, wherein the central music store includes aplayback unit and magnetically playable information carriers for musicalselections.
 16. A jukebox according to claim 1, wherein the display ofthe jukebox includes a viewing screen, and wherein the central musicstore includes video information.
 17. An improved jukebox for connectionwith a central music store by way of a data telecommunications line, thejukebox including a digital/analog converter and an amplifier for audioinformation received from the central music store by way of the datacommunications line, an input unit for entering selections by users ofthe jukebox, and at least one audio transducer, wherein the improvementcomprises:the jukebox includes a mass storage memory for storing aplurality of musical selections that have been received from the centralmusic store by way of the data communications line.
 18. The jukebox ofclaim 17, wherein the mass storage memory comprises a diskette station.19. The jukebox of claim 17, wherein the mass storage memory comprises afixed disk.
 20. The jukebox of claim 17, further comprising anintermediate memory for temporarily storing a musical selection whichhas been received from the central music store by way of the datacommunications line, and wherein the mass storage memory comprises acache memory.
 21. The jukebox of claim 17, further comprising anintermediate memory for temporarily storing a musical selection whichhas been received from the central music store by way of the datacommunications line, a payment unit, and a computer which stores andprocesses user data.